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ORIGIN

This 2003 BMW 540i was optioned in black-on-black and is powered by a 4.4-liter V8 that is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. The car has been with the seller for two years, during which time it received a partial repaint, a front suspension overhaul, interior repairs, and more detailed below. An extra set of Borbet wheels with Dunlop winter tires is included along with original literature and a several other spare items. This E39 is sold with a Carfax report, recent receipts, and a clear Ohio title.

Black Sapphire metallic paint is shown up close in the photos below along with trim, glass, and lenses. Recent body and paint work included dent repair and installation of an aftermarket M5-style front bumper as well as repainting of the hood, passenger fender, right rear corner, left rear wheel arch, and rear bumper. Staggered M-Parallel wheels wear silver powder coat applied 10k miles ago and are mounted with Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 rubber. A matching M-Parallel has replaced the factory spare.

Stock headlight washers have been removed and both kidney grille surrounds are painted black. Adjusters for the xenon headlights were replaced 14k miles ago along with the passenger-side mirror surround. A 35% tint has been added to side and rear glass. New OEM seals were installed for the rear window at 129k.

Black leather seats are accompanied by carbon-look vinyl trim wraps as well as suede shift and e-brake boots. A similar material covers the lower half of the M-Technic steering wheel, while its rim has been refinished in perforated leather with tri-color M stitching. An E60 short shifter is capped with a ZHP shift knob, and aftermarket pedal covers and cup holders have also been added. The powered rear sunshade was recently refreshed as were the final stage unit resistor, cabin air filters, and trunk lid struts. A sunshade is missing from one rear quarter window. A set of all-season floor mats is included in the sale.

Factory gauges are decorated with silver aftermarket trim rings. The digital odometer was unreadable due to dead pixels when the seller acquired the car. A repair was performed at 123k miles, and just over 137k indicated miles are now shown. Problematic pixels remain visible in the center and right instrument cluster displays. An auxiliary audio input with Bluetooth adapter has been added to the factory stereo. The common “seat twist” fix has been carried out along with replacement of the rear HVAC controls. Air conditioning was serviced 7k miles ago.

The 4.4L 32-valve V8 was good for factory ratings of 290 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque in 2003. Valve cover gaskets were replaced at 94k miles, while underhood work during the seller’s ownership included a new timing chain tensioner, power steering fluid reservoir, thermostat, fuel vapor breather valve, and spark plugs. An oil change was carried out 500 miles ago using Mobil 1 synthetic oil and an OEM filter. The seller notes that the engine bay was not detailed for the listing and describes small oil leaks at the valve cover and oil pan.

Center mufflers were removed by a previous owner and the rear is an aftermarket item of unknown make, with the resulting exhaust note exhibited in the video above. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission that is said to operate well. A new clutch was installed at 95k miles. Underbody photos show the general condition of the suspension and drivetrain.

A recent front suspension and steering overhaul included a new inner tie rod link, outer tie rods, front control arms, and sway bar links from Lemförder, TRW, Rein, and other OEM suppliers. Fresh engine and transmission mounts were also installed. Zimmermann brake rotors and Akebono ceramic pads approximately 16k miles old, and all four calipers were painted red by a previous owner. The seller describes routine wheel alignments and tire balancing during his time with the car.

The Carfax report shows no accidents or thefts and a number of services over seven owners including the seller. Two “not actual mileage” entries are pointed out by the seller, who reiterates that the odometer’s pixels were not readable at the time of the entries but have since been repaired. A Blackstone oil analysis report from August 2016 is included in the gallery below.

Receipts are available for all repairs and maintenance carried out during the seller’s ownership. Original owner’s literature includes manuals as well as a window sticker showing a 2003 MSRP of just under $61k. The sale includes several spare parts as shown below as well as a set of Dunlop winter tires mounted to 16×7 Borbet wheels.